Closing your shower curtain after use can significantly reduce the risk of mold and mildew growth by allowing the liner to dry more effectively.
It is important to leave the shower curtain open after showering. This allows for improved air circulation and prevents the formation of mold and mildew. When the curtain is closed, moisture gets trapped inside the shower, leading to the growth of unwanted mold and mildew.
Once the wash cycle is complete, shake out the curtain and hang it back up on the shower rod to air dry. While some fabric curtains can be tumbled on low heat in the dryer, plastic or vinyl curtains should only be air dried. Check the care label before attempting to put fabric curtains in the dryer.
It's generally a good idea to close the bathroom door when you shower to prevent steam and moisture from spreading to other areas of your home, which can lead to issues like mold and mildew. It also helps maintain privacy and keeps the warmth inside the bathroom.
A few more tips to consider
The number one tip to prevent mildew from forming on your shower curtain is to deal with the moisture on your curtain in a timely fashion. This means ensuring it is drawn closed when you finish showering.
Prepare a spray bottle with either white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide and mist the shower curtain after each shower. Either of these products will keep mildew from forming. Additionally, toss the liner in the washing machine once a month to keep it clean.
To let moisture escape, leave your bathroom window open during showering and for at least 15 minutes after. If your bathroom doesn't have any windows, leave the door open instead. Some plants, including spider plants and snake plants, can also help remove moisture from the air.
You can even leave the bathroom door open slightly to prevent that humid air from getting trapped. Improving ventilation is key to sending mold spores packing before they proliferate.
Cold water strains your body — it goes into “survival mode,” working hard to maintain its core temperature. This stimulates your body to increase blood flow circulation. “Increasing circulation redistributes blood and delivers freshly oxygenated blood to areas of the body that need to recover,” Dr. Hame says.
Probably more often than you think. After all, you come face to face with your shower curtain or plastic liner on an almost daily basis. Ideally, you should be washing it once a month. At the very least, however, you should aim to clean your plastic shower curtain once every three months.
First, mix one part white vinegar to four parts water in a spray bottle. Close the shower curtain so it extends the full length of the tub or stall, and, on the tub-side, spray with the vinegar and water solution. The vinegar will work to break down soap scum and mold.
Grasp the shower curtain by its leading edge and gently pull until it is flush with the wall. Step into the tub, if you have not already done so. Then take the other edge of shower curtain and cautiously pull it in opposite direction until it, too, adjoins the wall.
Keep curtains and blinds open while you're away – closing them gives the impression that no-one is home. Use a timer to turn lights on and off in the evening. You can buy simple timers that fit into plug sockets that schedule lights to come on for a couple of hours, giving the impression that someone is home at night.
Allow curtain to dry completely between showers
Spread curtain open and hang it outside of the tub to dry after taking a shower. Reducing humidity in your bathroom by opening a window or running the overhead fan can also help with drying.
Shower Curtains & Shower Curtain Liners: Every 6 Months
If you have a plastic shower curtain liner, it's easy to see when mold, mildew, or other buildup has accumulated.
As soon as you get out of the shower, wipe the floor and close the curtain so it can fully dry out. Shower curtains are prime targets for mildew. If you have a shower with a door, leave the door open to air out the inside of the shower.
Keeping your shower doors closed at all hours of the day locks in moist air and can lead to mold. After you shower, the interior space is at its wettest point. Try to keep the doors open for a half hour or so until the steam clears. If you have a fan in your bathroom, make sure to turn it on and let the air circulate.
Here are four common causes of black mold in your bathroom: Humidity levels exceeding 60% and remaining there for too long. Little to no bathroom ventilation needed to reduce humidity. Water leaks from faulty toilet seals, broken or loose water, and drain pipes.
Turn on extractor fans in the bathroom and kitchen (if fitted) or slightly open a window when taking a shower, bath or cooking. Leave windows slightly open for 30 minutes after showering or cooking to get rid of the excess moisture in the air.
Windows in showers improve bathroom ventilation, allowing moisture to escape and reducing the chances of mold and mildew on tiles, grout and other surfaces, according to Kevin McLaughlin, owner of Heritage Exteriors in Upton, Massachusetts.
You can also use Lysol® Disinfectant Spray to control and prevent the spread of mold and mildew, as well as its nasty odor.
Black mould spores need moisture to cultivate fungal growth. If the relative humidity in the home is over 50%, then excess condensation sets the stage for invisible mould spores to settle back onto the substrate and start the cycle once more.
Preventing Mold Growth with Vinegar
Store a spray bottle of vinegar in the bathroom and mist it over the shower stall after taking a shower, or add vinegar to your mopping solution to prevent mold growth on the floor.